Bauchi State Govt Explains Viral Pictures Of Stacks Of Cash Found In A Commissioner's Office

Bauchi State Government has explained photos of large stacks of cash said to be about N20million seen in the office of a state Commissioner, that has been trending on social media.

According to Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar, SA Communications to the Governor of Bauchi State, the money was earmarked for feeding during the Ramadan. The money was presented to the people by Commissioner Abdullah Mohammed Idris on behalf of the state governor Mohammed Abdullahi on Wednesday June 15. See the statement below:

"Good evening to the good people of Bauchi state. It has come to my attention, the circulation of certain photographs online of money found on the table of a serving Commissioner of Bauchi state. I wish to assure you all that, the said picture is no implication of corruption or illegal money transactions.
This period of Ramadan teaches us to extend love to the poor, less privileged and the non buoyant. In line with this, and as has always been done, the Bauchi State Government releases funds to mosques in Bauchi state for the provision of iftar to faithfuls. These funds are disbursed through the Office of the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, to assist faithfuls who are not buoyant enough to afford iftar.

Once again, we understand the insensitivity of the image, surfacing at a time like this when we as a Government are working hard to achieve a corruption-free and transparent administration.
We want to assure the good people of Bauchi state that all and sundry is being done to make the best use of resources, fight corruption within the State and ensure that all our promises to the people are fully delivered.

May Allah crown our efforts with success.

Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar
SA Communications to His Excellency the Governor of Bauchi State
16th June, 2016

Pres. Buhari Meets With Bola Tinubu & Oba Sikiru Adetona In London Today

President Buhari is expected back in Nigeria on Sunday. He met with APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona Ogbagba II, in London today, June 16.

Arsenal To Play First Game Of 2016/2017 Premier League Season Against Liverpool

The fixtures for the upcoming Premier League season has been announced and the surprise opening fixture sees the gunners face a tough start. Arsenal will begin the 2016-17 Premier League campaign with a clash against Liverpool followed by a trip to defending Champions Leicester.

Leicester on the other hand open their title defence against newly promoted Hull City on the opening day. The first Manchester derby of the season which will see old foes Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola lock horns comes up on September 10th.

Abraham Adesanya Housing Estate Flooded With Water After Today's Continous Rainfall

Abraham Adesanya Housing Estate entrance gate is currently flooded with water after today's continous rainfall. The situation is also affecting the Abraham Adesanya roundabout and the traffic around the area is presently serious.

Rescued Boko Haram Victims: 61 Critically Malnourished Infants Hospitalized, 478 Children And 219 Adults In Special Care

Sixty one critically malnourished infants have been hospitalized on the orders of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima after he relocated 478 children and 219 adults, all of them malnourished at due to two years captivity in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents before they were rescued by the Nigerian Military.

The victims were moved from Bama to a special care unit in Maiduguri on Monday. Dozens of buses brought conveyed them to a newly opened special care unit in Maiduguri.

The 61 infants now hospitalized at Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital, owned by the State Government in Maiduguri, are undergoing medical care arising from extreme deprivation of food. They were part of the 478 children moved from Bama alongside 219 adults also malnurished.

The adults consist of 196 women, some of whom gave birth to part of the 478 children. The rest of the adults are 23 men, looking thin. The victims were among those rescued by the military in continued operations against Boko Haram insurgents who in the last six years attacked communities, killing residents and abducting many.


After ordering health and Emergency Management Agency staff to set up the special unit on Monday night, Governor Shettima was at the unit on Tuesday to meet the kids and parents. The Governor mobilized workers on water and sanitation, environment and other senior government officials. He personally supervised administration of care to the children and the parents.

"Anyone that shows sign of being in critical health condition should be sent for medical admission on Government shoulders. Food and water must be constant and so should medical staff and drugs at the unit. I will monitor every step of what happens here" Shettima told staff.


There were humanitarians from particularly Empower 54, an Atlanta based humanitarian organization led by a Benin Princess, Modupe Ozolua. The princess played a key role in working with the Borno State Government since the last weeks and she indeed accompanied Government officials to Bama on Monday to convey the 697 suffering souls to Maiduguri. "Modupe has done very well in supporting Borno" Shettima praised.

At the special care unit were members of the Dangote Foundation who immediately donated food items. There were officials from the United Nations Office on Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and so were members of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and those from UNICEF. Everyone wanted to help as they were inspired by Governor Shettima's two hours supervision at the special unit.

Meanwhile, Governor Kashim Shettima also on Tuesday, relocated some freshly rescued thousands of Villagers displaced in Marte and Mafa. The Governor went to see the victims who stayed under trees along Maiduguri- Dikwa road on the outskirts of Maiduguri. The villagers, said to be over 10,000 were rescued around Mafa and Marte after a recent raid by the military. They were trapped due to insurgency activities on the routes to their villages, they told the Governor.


Shettima not only ordered that a new camp be opened for them but he waited for 4 hours, supervising the creation of the camp and he didn't leave until they were in their new 'home'. He ordered construction of boreholes and rest rooms while a medical unit is to be set up. The Governor was concerned about security around the new camp but he was assured by soldiers that there was no cause for worry.





Source: Isa Gusau,spokesman to Governor Kashim Shettima.

Donald Trump Says Obama Should Resign If He Doesnt Mention Radical Islam As The Cause Of The Mass Shooting In Orlando

US Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump took to his twitter page to gloat about being right about radical Islamic terrorism in the US. He then said US President Obama should resign if he doesn't call the massacre what it is: Radical Islamic Terrorism. More tweets below...

He got some backlash from people who said this wasn't the right time to gloat, that this was a time to mourn.

Ooni Of Ife Presented With The Key To The City Of Newark New Jersey

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II who is presently in the US, was presented with the key to the city of Newark, the second largest city in the New York metropolitan area. Congrats to him. More pictures below

FG Must Fulfil School Feeding Promise Without States’ 40% Contribution – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has insisted that the School Feeding Programme of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government must be done without the proposed 40 per cent counterpart funding from the States, saying;
“The Federal Government is already looking for excuse for the impending failure of the programme by asking States to contribute 40 per cent to the scheme.”

The governor, who said the school feeding programme was purely a contract between the APC-led Federal Government and Nigerians, asked;
“Were the States consulted before the APC made the promise during the presidential campaign? How can you make a promise and win election on the basis of that promise and now expect States to help you to fulfil the promise? That to me is fraud!”
Governor Fayose said in a statement issued on Sunday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka that Ekiti State and other States in the country deserved to benefit from the programme without assisting the federal government with any 40 percent counterpart funding.

The governor said the APC-led Federal Government should rather blame itself for failing to do proper study on the practicability of the scheme before promising Nigerians instead of looking for who to blame for not fulfilling the school feeding promise.

He said;
“apart from the fact that Ekiti State lacked the financial wherewithal to provide counterpart fund for such a programme, it is the duty of President Mohammed Buhari and his APC that won election on the basis of their promise to give free meal to school pupils to fulfil the promise without placing any burden on other tiers of government.”
“Nigerians should come to term with the reality that the federal government is already looking for a ready alibi for the impending failure of the school feeding programme.
“The federal government knowns that 80 per cent of the States lack the financial will to be able to contribute the 40 per cent counterpart fund for the programme and the time the programme eventually fails, Nigerians will be told that it failed because States did not key in to it.
“As for us in Ekiti, we are interested in the programme because Nigeria belongs to all of us. But we won’t contribute any counterpart fund because the programme is solely an electoral promise of the APC and we were never consulted before the promise was made. We don’t even have the capability to make any financial contribution even if it is 10 per cent because our financial condition is such that we can’t even pay workers salary,” Governor Fayose said.

50 Killed 53 Injured In Gay Nightclub Mass Shooting In Florida

Update on the mass shooting at the Orlando Gay night club mass shooting in Florida. According to police, the gunman who has been identified as Omar Saddiqui Mateen, a U.S. citizen from Port St. Lucie, Florida, who was born to Afghan parents made a pledge to ISIS and had been under investigation by the FBI in regards to radical Islam in 2013 but the case was closed in 2014.

Mateen's father told NBC News, "This has nothing to do with religion." Adding that his son became angry after he saw 2 men kissing a few months ago in Miami, concluding that that could have triggered his decision to kill gay people at that club.

The NYPD denounced Mateen, stating that he has no association with the department, and that the shirts he was pictured in were unofficial outfits that could be bought at any store in the US.

Lesbianism Kills Women's Soccer Teams In Nigeria - NFF Former VP, Seyi Akinwumi

First vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, disclosed that lesbianism is one of the problems affecting the growth of women’s soccer team in Nigeria.

He made the shocking revelation yesterday, June 11,  when he featured on a sport personality programme "Hot Seat" organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State chapter, in Ibadan.
"Lesbianism kills women’s soccer teams. People are afraid to talk about it. The coaches take advantage of the girls, so there is much more to build in female football. I took a historical look at countries and teams which have had success in this category, they started the way we also started, and it was difficult for them in the beginning as well. No sponsor, lack of interest and others," Akinwumi said.
"But I discovered here that what will fund female football is male football, and male football itself is gasping for breath. That is really the major problem- funding. And at the same time, equal funding is not possible,"
Akinwunmi however, suggested a total overhaul of the league system for proper monitoring and development of the game.
"My passion for female football, honestly is as great as it is for grassroots football. But in reality, there are lots of problems affecting the growth of women’s football in this country. It costs more and returns less. There is fewer players, less interests, in female football than male football. But we have no excuse. Last year, I think the most problematic person to the chairman of female league was Seyi Akinwumi, myself, I launched several attacks just to ensure things work accordingly. So, I decided that look, if it’s so difficult for you, let us show you how it’s done.
"In Lagos now, we have cleared the second half of the year for female football, it’s not going to be a tournament but a mentorship programme and many things that goes on. I said we’re going to have a female team, but when I dabble into it, talk to them and see it’s problem. I discovered that there is a lot of things going on underground that people don’t talk about.
"At the clubs, It’s not about somebody owing a club, no, there are guidelines. We have companies who mainly operate in female and children stuff but are they showing interest in funding, not all. How many of them fund football?
"Our budget here is not near it because the gravitas are not yet there. So for now, it is the male football that has to fund female football, for it to grow to a level where there would be interest."
Source: Nigerian Tribune

Medical Doctor Turned Armed Robber Arrested In Anambra State

45 year old Richard Macaulay Obafemi, a medical doctor who trained at the University College London, has been arrested for Armed robbery by the Anambra state police command.

According to The Sun, Richard had his primary and secondary school education at Ipaja, Lagos State before proceeding to the Univer­sity College London, UCL, where he obtained a degree in Microbiology in 1987 and later studied medicine at University Colege London UCL, from 1987-1992.

In 1993, he did the housemanship in Hatsfield, London. In 1996, Obafemi who is an indigene of Ogun state, came to Nigeria for the Nation­al Youth Service Corps Scheme and was posted to Kwara State. At the end of the service year, Obafemi took up appointment with the College of Medicine, University of Benin, where he worked for two years from 1998 to 2000, before travelling to Saudi Arabia. He thereafter got another job offer at the University of Ghana in 2006 and worked there till 2015 when he decided to visit Nigeria.
“In 2015, I came to Nige­ria and visited Kaduna State. During that trip, a car I was driving had an accident and the victim died. I was charged to court and remanded at Kaduna Central Prison. But I was later released from prison on April 8, 2016". While in prison, Obafemi developed a relationship WITH two other inmates, Stephen and Ifeanyi who were professional car snatchers and armed robbers. When he left prison, he met with these men who had also regained freedom and they convinced him to join their business. “After I left prison, I had followed Ifeanyi to Asaba and joined their gang, which specialized in snatching cars. We have stolen cars like Lexus, SUV in Lagos State, which I drove to Katsina State to sell to buyers from Niger Repub­lic. I sold one for N450,000. I didn’t go back to University of Ghana because when I was in prison in Kaduna, I didn’t communicate with them. When I came out from prison, I found out that there was no going back. I decided to join the armed robbery gang to earn a living. I am married and blessed with three children. I lost my wife, Mary in 2012 while my three children are in Canada.”
Luck however ran out on them when the Anambra state police arrested an alleged member of their gang, Vincent, in Onitsha who revealed information to the police. Investigations by the police led to the arrest of Obafemi on May 17th at a hotel in Anambra.

The police will charge him and his accomplices to court soon.

Tompolo Appeals To Niger Delta Avengers To Stop Attacking Pipelines, Insist He Has No Link With Them

Former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, has appealed to members of the Niger Delta Avengers, to stop their continuous attack on oil installations in the Niger Delta Region. Tompolo who has been declared wanted after failing to appear before a court for corruption charges, made his appeal in a statement he released today June 10th. In the statement, Tompolo insisted he has no link with the militant group. Part of his statement reads;



“I wish to once again write the members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace the Federal Government dialogue option as a way out of the brewing crisis in the Niger Delta region. As I have said before now, I do not know you and how to reach you except through the mass media, therefore it is high time you stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. One thing you guys may not be aware of is that you have not only succeeded in militarizing the Niger Delta region now, but also succeeded in given birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within the government circle, who are very serious rumour peddlers in the country now. Presently all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been deserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leave the communities in shambles. Even until now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu Shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion. It is pertinent to state that I have not heard and seen in any part of Nigeria, even the most volatile North Eastern part of Nigeria,where Boko Haram has been killing innocent people, the way and manner the Military desecrated the traditional worship centres in Gbaramatu Kingdom. This is a clear oppression and intimidation of the peace loving people of Gbaramatu Kingdom Another dangerous dimension my traducers have introduced into this issue is the allegation that some of my closest men are coordinators of the Niger Delta Avengers. In addition, this is currently trending in the social media, specifically in the niaja.com platform, that Benji Ekeremor, Super and Owomor aka VIP are the coordinators of the Avengers. The truth of the matter is that I can no longer endure these blackmails from my traducers, as I have seen that they are not resting in their oars, as they have vowed to implicate me by all means necessary. God forbid! To set the records straight, these are responsible men who had had skilled training under the Presidential Amnesty programme that are currently using their acquired skills to eke out a living. Therefore, the allegation that they are the coordinators of various axes of the Avengers is a malicious and mischievous one. On a final note, I wish to reiterate that you guys must stop the bombing and destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region now and embrace the dialogue option from the Federal Government as it is (dialogue) the only pragmatic means in resolving a crisis no matter huge and complicated such crisis is. In addition, I believe fervently that the Government is serious and willing to end this re-occurring crisis in the Niger Delta region. Enough is enough,”.

Nigerian Army Confirms The Retirement Of Some High Ranking Officers Accused Of Looting

In a statement issued by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, the Nigerian army has confirmed the retirement of some officers which include; Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major. The statement reads,

The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday.

Those retired were mainly some Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major. Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections.

Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot. Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The military must remain apolitical and professional at all times. We must applaud and support this laudable and bold initiative by the government.

Festac Killing: NSCDC Has Not Handed Over Suspected Killer Of Petrol Hawker To Us – Lagos Police

                                       

                                                           Dolapo Badmos

The Lagos State Police Command says investigation into the killing of a petrol hawker on April 6th in Festac Town has not been abandoned.

The command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday that the suspected killer of the hawker has yet to be handed over by the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for interrogation.

NAN reports that a man allegedly died when operatives believed to be from NSCDC were trying to arrest and seize jerrycans laden with petrol from the hawkers.

The situation was brought under control by the police and other security agents. However, the NSCDC denied involvement in the killing.

“Iinvestigation into the killing is still on, but the suspect has not been handed over to the police. We have requested the Lagos State Command of NSCDC to surrender the suspect for interogation and there is nothing we can do for now,” Badmos said.

Efforts to get the NSCDC spokesman in the state, Chibuzor Mefor, to comment on the development were unsuccessful as he did not responds to calls or SMS sent to him

Funke Akindele’s Flawless Look As IROKO World Celebrates Its Ambassador

Last night saw a red carpet extravaganza at an event hosted by iROKO World and Lebara Play, at the Greenwich ODEON in London, in honour of actress Funke Akindele, who is iROKO World’s Global Brand Ambassador.

Celebrating Funke’s renowned Nollywood character, ‘Jenifa’, the event saw hundreds of Funke’s fans descend for a screening of episodes 1 and 2 of Season 4 of Jenifa’s Diary, as well as a Q&A on stage with Funke and DJ Abass. As a special treat for her fans, Funke also showcased a WORLD-EXCLUSIVE, much anticipated sneak peek of Jenifa’s Diary Season 5.

Funke looked radiant in a stunning orange gown on the red carpet, and she spent much of her time meeting and taking selfies with fans – and they loved every minute!

See Funke Akindele’s fabulou look below.